Boise By Nature

 A couple of weeks ago, I went to Idaho Department of Fish & Game's Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, which is located in Camas County, just under two hours from Boise. After turning onto Highway 20 in Mountain Home, it is an absolutely beautiful drive, complete with mountain views, and just that particular sense of peace that driving in the country that soothes and nourishes the soul.  View of the mountains from Centennial Marsh The camas bulb is an important food source for Native Americans This area is a wonderful destination for bird watchers! The camas flower  ( Camassia quamash ) that can be found at Centennial Marsh was fairly sparse, but I still found a few blooms along the main road. The typical blooming period for this area is late May to early June, so I think I was a bit early. The light, delicate blue color of the flowers was a delight to see.  Camas blooming with snow-capped mountains in the distance Close up of the periwinkle-colored Camas...

Shoshone Falls A couple of weekends ago, I went on a short weekend trip to Pocatello, stopping at Shoshone Falls on the way. Did you know that Shoshone Falls is often called the " Niagara of the West "? The waterfalls' flow volume depends on the amount of snowfall the area has received, so spring is the best time to see . In October, the falls are at very small volume, but even seeing the rock formations and the overall scale of the falls was awe-inspiring. Also, the fee season is March 1-September 30, so if you're in the area, fall is a great time to swing by and take in this sight for free!  I've heard about being able to kayak to the falls, and this guide lays out all of the details on how to plan a trip. I am putting this on my Idaho bucket list as a fun summer adventure!  One of the great walkways to view the falls Hints of fall color peaking through in the brush! Traveling further into Eastern Idaho, I went to Pocatello, and explored this area for the first...

Beautiful fall sunset on a Military Reserve Trail Happy September! The month of September always seems like a fresh start, since it usually is the beginning of fall and beginning of the school year. This September, I'm looking forward to a month of highlights: Taking a vacation to the Pacific Northwest and exploring a beautiful area. Spending time on the trails of foothills through hiking and mountain biking. I'm excited to continue to get used to my new mountain bike, and use it to get further out on some of the local trails.  Continue my 2020 resolution to camp once monthly. Visit a winery on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail .  What are your September plans or goals?  A bit of fall color along the Boise River 

Sawtooth Wilderness boundary Looking toward the far side of Farley Lake - the first campsite  This past weekend, I went backpacking on an iconic loop in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho. The Sawtooths are beloved and renowned for their dramatic sharp, rocky peaks that resemble the teeth on a saw. I had only been to the Sawtooths once before (six years ago when I was working a seasonal position in McCall), so I was looking forward to exploring more.  I hiked the Toxaway Lake to Alice Lake Loop , and spent two nights in the backcountry. This was the perfect amount of time to spend backpacking, since it's been several years since I've hit the trail and done backcountry camping. My back and legs were achy and tired by the end of the weekend, but this trip itinerary allowed  The fire smoke that has been looming over Boise was present in Stanley (a small river town close to the Sawtooths) and the views of the mountains took on a dreamlike, mystical quality w...

North Fork Boise River   We're in the middle of an Excessive Heat Warning here in Boise, so there's no denying -- the dog days of summer are here! This past weekend prompted the question: when the temperatures move upward, what are ways to cool down? I've put together a few ideas to help you beat the heat! 1. Float the Boise River . This is one of the most popular ways to cool down in the City of Trees, and for good reason - it's a lot of fun! You can rent a tube, a raft, or an inflatable kayak from Boise River Raft & Tube  and float the cool stretch of the river from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park. There's nothing quite like experiencing Boise from a tube in the Boise River, and gaining a whole new perspective of the city by going under bridges, over a few rapids, and spotting riverside birds. The water temperature will leave you feeling utterly refreshed and chilled, perfect for these hot days!  2. Bike the Greenbelt. I biked a portion of the Boise River Gre...

Cherry tomatoes from my garden Scarlet Paintbrush ( Castilleja miniata ) View from Stack Rock Beautiful Greenbelt bridge Jeffrey's or Mountain Shooting Star ( Dodecatheon jeffreyi) It's currently July, and Boise is hot. The summer seems to be going by at a hurdling pace, but luckily I've managed to get outdoors quite a bit. Here's a few updates on life lately.   Thinking about... The ongoing pandemic, travel, how to be flexible with plans (necessary in this season of constantly changing travel restrictions, and hotspots of COVID-19 cases), how to stay in touch with friends, and the whole concept of "pause and pivot" which is related to coronavirus.  Listening to... I've been continuing to enjoy podcasts, including A Beautiful Mess Podcast , Office Ladies , and Spilled Milk . These are fun to listen to while cooking or cleaning around the house.  Cooking + eating + drinking... A great summer article is 101 Simple Salads for the Season from the New York Tim...

Glacier Lily ( Erythronium grandiflorum ) Summer is in full swing here in Idaho, and the month of July has been busy, but also full of outdoor adventures so far. I spent the Fourth of July holiday in Coeur d'Alene, and had a wonderful time exploring a different part of the state. The landscape and mountains in this area were reminiscent of my time spent in the central Idaho wilderness, and overall very different from the Boise foothills. On a hike to a beautiful alpine lake near Wallace, Idaho, I snapped some photos of many gorgeous midsummer wildflowers. Enjoy!  Yellow columbine ( Aquilegia flavescens ) Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) Scarlet paintbrush ( Castilleja miniata ) Thimbleberry ( Rubus parviflorus ) Beautiful mountain wildflowers and view of mountains near Wallace, Idaho

A rainbow of beautiful wildflowers above the North Fork Boise River High water on the North Fork Boise River The end of June is upon us, and I've been behind on my blog posts. I've spent so much time outside this month, which is just how I envision spending the idyllic summer time. I'm sharing photos of my June outdoor adventures here. It has been a month jam-packed with hiking, camping trips, weather of all varieties, and spending time with wonderful friends. In COVID-19 news, it appears that we took two steps forward with re-opening and one step back, as the Boise areas has regressed back to Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebound plan. I am continuing to enjoy spending lots of time outdoors, and feel lucky that my daily routine has not changed much and that my I can still pursue my hobbies and interests outdoors during this time. July is looking to be another busy and adventurous month, exactly how summer is. Summer time in Idaho is unfolding to be full of exploration, and pockets ...

Such an icon of summer The other day I was using the Boise Public Library's curbside pickup service (since the library isn't open yet), and I ventured over to neighboring Julia Davis Park. I was delighted to see an explosion of colors and fragrances from the Rose Garden, which is in its blooming prime at the moment. Enjoy these photos and learn more about the history of the Rose Garden here . 

Driving tour of Birds of Prey National Conservation Area - click here to see the brochure and map A couple of weeks ago, I took a driving tour of the Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The driving route outlines some notable geographic features of the area, as well as bringing birds to great spots above the Snake River for catching glimpses of birds of prey. Read more about the history of this unique area here .  View of Initial Point Snake River at Celebration Park Helpful bird identification sign at Dedication Point This sign at the Kuna Visitors Center has great ideas for stops along the Western Heritage Historic Byway View from Dedication Point